Levi takes ICC's T20 award for fastest ton

South Africa's Richard Levi took home the ICC's T20I Performance of the Year award for his innings of 117 not out off 51 balls against New Zealand, in Auckland in February. That effort broke Chris Gayle's record for the fastest century in international T20s - Levi got to the mark in 45 balls.

In that game Levi, playing only his second international match, also hit the most sixes in an international Twenty20 innings: 13.

"I don't remember much of the innings but I regularly get reminded of it," Levi said after collecting his award. "With T20 cricket it either comes off or it doesn't and for me it came off that day. I'm looking forward to playing Sri Lanka when the ICC World Twenty20 gets underway. It's very humbling to get [this award]."

It was the only award on the day for South Africa, with Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander missing out on a couple of top honours. Cricket South Africa congratulated Levi for his achievement. "It was a phenomenal performance and one that is going to be talked about for years to come," CSA acting CEO Jacques Faul said. "To win the award he had to beat off serious competition."

Levi's century was picked over Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan (nominated for his century against Australia last August) and Ajantha Mendis (for his six-for against Australia during the same series), and West Indies' Chris Gayle (for his unbeaten 85 against New Zealand in Florida) in the category.

This just proves these awards are a joke.. Sanga beats Amla and Vern to the test awards and Levi beats Mendis in T20.... Many would say that it should be the reverses. You can't have it all my Lankan Lions friends.

POSTED BY
OceanSaffa
on | September 16, 2012, 12:35 GMT

There's a lot of contradicting comment here. People say Mendis should have gotten the award, but people 4get that Philander took 50 wickets in 9 tests & did not win. All the winners r batsmen. So please, he deserves it as much as Sanga which a lot of people say he doesn't deserve it.

POSTED BY
the_wallster
on | September 16, 2012, 10:40 GMT

Enjoy this moment Levi, because it'll be one of your last. You were eventually figured out in the IPL, and have been well and trly sussed at international level. At hamilton the boundaries were in about 50 metres in an already small ground. If Michael Atherton had have opened in that game he would have scored a ton.

I rather suspect that the NZ bowlers from this award-winning performance (and I watched it on tv) would have preferred not to be reminded of how they went that day. I remember thinking at the time that they seem to have forgotten how to think on their feet. Truly bizarre, but that's T20 for you.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 19:49 GMT

Levi made his runs in Hamilton,not in Auckland.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 19:01 GMT

Saeed Ajmal was far better choice and he will prove it again and again

POSTED BY
adnan_rifat84
on | September 15, 2012, 16:32 GMT

Is this award for only one performance or over all? I wonder how ICC judging cricketers and awarding players just on one day performance? What about those who are working hard for whole year? Levi performance after that match is just like nothing !!! any other match he played brilliant after that 117 of 51 balls?

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 16:26 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve the award more than any one he took 6 wickets with good opposition, where levi century in new zealand (most probably in smaller ground ), 6 wickets in 10 overs it's self difficult he did on 4 overs

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 16:13 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve this. he changed a game we were surely losing. SL scored about 150 and Australia were about 70 for no loss after 7 odd overs and Mendis took 6 wickets to turn the game on its head. That is the T20 performance of the year

POSTED BY
TommytuckerSaffa
on | September 16, 2012, 15:54 GMT

This just proves these awards are a joke.. Sanga beats Amla and Vern to the test awards and Levi beats Mendis in T20.... Many would say that it should be the reverses. You can't have it all my Lankan Lions friends.

POSTED BY
OceanSaffa
on | September 16, 2012, 12:35 GMT

There's a lot of contradicting comment here. People say Mendis should have gotten the award, but people 4get that Philander took 50 wickets in 9 tests & did not win. All the winners r batsmen. So please, he deserves it as much as Sanga which a lot of people say he doesn't deserve it.

POSTED BY
the_wallster
on | September 16, 2012, 10:40 GMT

Enjoy this moment Levi, because it'll be one of your last. You were eventually figured out in the IPL, and have been well and trly sussed at international level. At hamilton the boundaries were in about 50 metres in an already small ground. If Michael Atherton had have opened in that game he would have scored a ton.

I rather suspect that the NZ bowlers from this award-winning performance (and I watched it on tv) would have preferred not to be reminded of how they went that day. I remember thinking at the time that they seem to have forgotten how to think on their feet. Truly bizarre, but that's T20 for you.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 19:49 GMT

Levi made his runs in Hamilton,not in Auckland.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 19:01 GMT

Saeed Ajmal was far better choice and he will prove it again and again

POSTED BY
adnan_rifat84
on | September 15, 2012, 16:32 GMT

Is this award for only one performance or over all? I wonder how ICC judging cricketers and awarding players just on one day performance? What about those who are working hard for whole year? Levi performance after that match is just like nothing !!! any other match he played brilliant after that 117 of 51 balls?

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 16:26 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve the award more than any one he took 6 wickets with good opposition, where levi century in new zealand (most probably in smaller ground ), 6 wickets in 10 overs it's self difficult he did on 4 overs

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 16:13 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve this. he changed a game we were surely losing. SL scored about 150 and Australia were about 70 for no loss after 7 odd overs and Mendis took 6 wickets to turn the game on its head. That is the T20 performance of the year

POSTED BY
xylo
on | September 15, 2012, 15:27 GMT

This is just wrong. This award has to go along with the smallest ground award. That he has fizzled out after that one inning further proves my point.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:50 GMT

totally over rated player. But, deserves that one shot wonder.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:40 GMT

I always thought Levi gonna win this award after his name included in the short list. Congrats. Although I never saw that inning on TV, it is remarkable to hit 13 sixes in one inning.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:20 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve to win this award . he got 6 wickets in just 24 deliveries, its difficult get five in 50 over match he got in 4 overs

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:16 GMT

The ground was way too small though if you watch the highlights of his innings otherwise he would've got caught in his 30s or 40s just my view.

POSTED BY
Pilot777
on | September 15, 2012, 14:13 GMT

I do not understand why the fastest 50 or 100 has to be split between different Cricket formats. The fastest is the fastest by virtue of the runs scored taking the least number of balls.

The record for the fastest 100 stands with Shahid Afridi regardless followed by Lara and afridi joint second again. Full stop!

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
Pilot777
on | September 15, 2012, 14:13 GMT

I do not understand why the fastest 50 or 100 has to be split between different Cricket formats. The fastest is the fastest by virtue of the runs scored taking the least number of balls.

The record for the fastest 100 stands with Shahid Afridi regardless followed by Lara and afridi joint second again. Full stop!

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:16 GMT

The ground was way too small though if you watch the highlights of his innings otherwise he would've got caught in his 30s or 40s just my view.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:20 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve to win this award . he got 6 wickets in just 24 deliveries, its difficult get five in 50 over match he got in 4 overs

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:40 GMT

I always thought Levi gonna win this award after his name included in the short list. Congrats. Although I never saw that inning on TV, it is remarkable to hit 13 sixes in one inning.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 14:50 GMT

totally over rated player. But, deserves that one shot wonder.

POSTED BY
xylo
on | September 15, 2012, 15:27 GMT

This is just wrong. This award has to go along with the smallest ground award. That he has fizzled out after that one inning further proves my point.

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 16:13 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve this. he changed a game we were surely losing. SL scored about 150 and Australia were about 70 for no loss after 7 odd overs and Mendis took 6 wickets to turn the game on its head. That is the T20 performance of the year

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 16:26 GMT

Ajantha Mendis deserve the award more than any one he took 6 wickets with good opposition, where levi century in new zealand (most probably in smaller ground ), 6 wickets in 10 overs it's self difficult he did on 4 overs

POSTED BY
adnan_rifat84
on | September 15, 2012, 16:32 GMT

Is this award for only one performance or over all? I wonder how ICC judging cricketers and awarding players just on one day performance? What about those who are working hard for whole year? Levi performance after that match is just like nothing !!! any other match he played brilliant after that 117 of 51 balls?

POSTED BY
on | September 15, 2012, 19:01 GMT

Saeed Ajmal was far better choice and he will prove it again and again